Interactive Prayer Stations on Hunger Awareness

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.” (John 21.17)

Our Missions Team declared October to be Hunger Awareness month. We kicked off the month with World Communion Sunday, where the kids “painted” bread with symbols of peace and love to be used in communion. Don’t worry it is completely edible. It’s just food coloring in milk.

Congregants were invited to participate in a Food Stamp Challenge, where for one week, you spend only a certain amount of money a day on food. We also set up interactive prayer stations that focused on hunger issues and ways to advocate and participate in addressing hunger in the community and world.

Interactive prayer stations are a wonderful opportunity for people to reflect on any social justice or global issue. The interactive prayer stations are meant to be intergenerational. (For more specific instructions on layout, purpose, design, and more ideas, you can view previous posts tagged under “Interactive Prayer Stations.”) You can see more pictures of these prayer stations here.

Interactive Prayer Station #1: Feed Our World

Materials: Different kinds of birdseed, Lunch bags, Paper Cups or Scoops

* I had seen this birdseed mandala done at a conference. I did my own version by making it in the shape of bread. Another idea is to use dry ingredients to make bean soup: kidney beans, pinto beans, seasonings, pasta

Interactive Prayer Station #2: Feed Our Neighborhood

Materials: Candles

Interactive Prayer Station #3: Feed Our Souls

Materials: Brown Grocery Bags, Different Vegetables with carved shapes, Paint, Brushes

Interactive Prayer Stations for Toddlers & Kids:

The sanctuary was decorated with yarn chandeliers. I wanted the effect of looking like spaghetti, but didn’t want to use food to make them. The yarn gave it that stringy look which was appropriate to the theme and beautiful.